Raytheon wins RAAF Super Hornet training contract

Raytheon Australia will provide RAAF Super Hornet training services. (Boeing)

Raytheon Australia has won a contract to provide training support services to the RAAF’s fleet of 24 F/A-18F Super Hornets at RAAF Base Amberley when they arrive next month.

Under the contract, Raytheon will provide “maintenance, logistics, and training services to support the Super Hornet flight simulators, visual environment maintenance trainers and electronic classrooms,” according to a release from Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science, Greg Combet. “The signing of the Super Hornet Training Support Services Contract is worth approximately $21.5 million over three years, and secures about 25 jobs at RAAF Base Amberley for that period,” it adds.

Raytheon will draw upon staff and experience with systems from the RAAF’s current classic Hornet Aircrew Training System (HACTS) simulators located at RAAF Williamtown and Tindal, and the F-111 simulator at Amberley. “This is a welcome addition to the Raytheon Australia force preparedness portfolio,” Raytheon Australia’s managing director, Michael Ward said, in a statement. “The contract extends our existing pedigree to ready and sustain the force that has been built upon designing innovative solutions such as the Hornet Aircrew Training System and the RAN Retention and Motivation Initiative (RMI).”